NHER 51821 (Building record) - Coldecot Barn, Langwade Green

October 2008. Building Survey.
Building recording undertaken at Caldecote Barn (now Owl Barn) prior to proposed conversion.
The complex consists of a barn aligned roughly east-west, forming the south side of a walled area divided into two by a central east- west wall. Two smaller building stand in the north east corner and southeast corner of the walled area, bothaligned north-south which were formerly part of a structure occupying the east side of the walled area. There was also a third compartment to the north, of which no trace remains. The majority of the structure is composed of chalk, with the quoins and details formed of brick. Flint is also used in places, and horizontal timbers are set in the walls at most of the corners.
The outer wall is in a ruinous state, and has two gateways with large brick piers bearing horizontal skintlings. The wall itself is chalk, with flint plinths at the end sections and a flint band along the top of the central section. The dividing wall is of chalk with a flint base and top.
The northeast building is now roofless. The west wall has a blocked door at the south end with a north jamb of red brick and a south jamb in yellow brick. The blocking is of breeze. The internal face has two lamp niches with pointed brick heads.The north gable wall has a flint base, with a doorway at the west end abutting on to the north yard. There is a gable window with brick arch and internal timber lintel. Joist holes indicate a loft.
The west wall of the southeast building has a door in a brick frame, and two interior lantern niches. The south gable wall has a blocked doorway infilled with chalk. The gable is outlined in brick and at the centre of its outer face it has the letters 'I L' formed in brick with brick crosses to each side. The interior face has the date '1848' in flint gallets set in cement. An upper timber in the north wall has the incised figures '…C 1848 …R…W18…WIC…48 D…1852…' It appears that the missing figures were deliberately destroyed.
The main barn has a door inserted at the east end, built with breezeblocks and brick. There are a pair of barn doors on the southern wall. The west gable wall has evidence of two rebuilds in yellow engineering bricks.
The basic layout probably dates for 1848, and it seems probable that the buildings represent accomodation for horses or bullocks. At some period before 1880 a third yard was added to the north.
The recording was undertaken prior to conversion of the barns to a residential dwelling.
See report (S1) for further details.
H. White (NLA) 1 December 2008.